TV Hot Spot: News

Pilots: Janssen on the Beat at NBC

Post by: Shai

Famke Janssen has signed on to an NBC pilot from "House" creator David Shore, in what would be her first starring role in a TV series.

The "X-Men" star will play a police officer in the untitled show. NBC has also cast Rocky Carroll ("Chicago Hope") in its comedy "The IT Crowd," and ABC has ordered a comedy pilot from British writer Victoria Pile ("Smack the Pony"), the showbiz trade papers report.

The Janssen pilot places her character at the center of a group of cops. Shore co-wrote the pilot with fellow "House" scribe Peter Blake, and like that show, the pilot will mix procedural stories with ongoing character development.

Janssen played Jean Grey in all three "X-Men" films. Her movie credits also include "GoldenEye," "The Faculty" and "Rounders." She's made guest appearances on several TV series, most notably in a recurring role on the second season of "Nip/Tuck."

Carroll, meanwhile, will play the smug supervisor of three computer techies (Joel McHale, Jessica St. Clair and Richard Ayoade) in "The IT Crowd," an adaptation of a Britcom with the same title. In addition to his time on "Chicago Hope," Carroll has appeared in "The Agency," "Invasion" and "Crimson Tide."

ABC's comedy order, about a group of eccentrics who populate a police station, also has British roots. Pile is a veteran of the sketch show "Smack the Pony" and created the hospital comedy "Green Wing."